The Highest Form of Praise Edited by Shlomo Katz Contributing Editor: Daniel Dadusc

“Fortunate is a man who listens to Me, and sits by My doors every day, guarding the entrances of My house. Those who find Me have found life, and will obtain favor from Hashem. A sinner damages his soul; those who hate Me love death” (Mishlei 8:34- 36). Rabbenu Yonah z”l writes that the first two verses quoted here sing the praises of a person who devotes his time to Torah study. By contrast, those who hate the Torah, its teachings, and its ethics will have no peace in this world or the next. These lessons parallel the opening section of our parashah: “Behold I have placed before you a blessing and a curse.” Later (in Parashat Nitzavim) the Torah elaborates: “Life and death I have placed before you, the blessing and the curse.” Chazal teach that we are free to choose what we will-life/blessing or death/curse-but Hashem advises (Devarim 30:19), “Choose life so that you and your children may live.”

The choice described above is what the prophet Yirmiyah was referring to when he said (Eichah 3:38), “Good and bad do not come from the mouth of the One above.” Rather, it is our choice. Therefore, (Eichah 3:39), “What can a person complain about, except each man over his own sins?” What should we do if we have sinned? Yirmiyah continues (3:40), “Let us search our ways and investigate, and return to Hashem.” (Derashot U’perushei Rabbenu Yonah Al HaTorah)

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“And you shall eat your tithes before G-d, in the place where G-d will choose to rest His Name . . . , in order that you should learn to fear G-d all the days.” (14:23)

R’ Simcha Zissel Ziv z”l (the “Alter of Kelm”; died 1898) explains the end of this verse: This does not mean that one must fear G-d all of one’s days; that goes without saying. Rather it means that one must learn more on each of his days about how to fear G-d.

R’ Chaim Friedlander z”l adds: This explains why one must “eat [his] tithes before G-d, in the place where G-d will choose to rest his Name,” i.e., in Yerushalayim. Even though the Jews would pilgrimage to Yerushalayim three times a year for the holidays, the Torah wanted them to spend even more time in that holy and inspiring city. (Siftei Chaim)

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“If there shall be a destitute person among you . . . you shall not harden your heart or close your hand to your destitute brother. Rather, you shall surely open your hand . . .” (15:7-8)

He explains: When one is unable to give, he is often tempted to shut the door in the beggar’s face. This is not proper. Even if your wallet is empty, open you heart and speak comforting words to the pauper. This, too, is charity. More generally, these words teach us to dispense charity with a smile.

Why does the Torah use the seemingly redundant language: “[Y]ou shall not close your hand to your destitute brother. Rather, you shall surely open your hand”? R’ Karo explains: Sometimes you may reach into your pocket and remove a larger coin (or bill) than you intended. Even in such a case, the Torah emphasizes through its double language, do not close your hand. If the pauper has seen the large coin that was in your hand, give it to him. (Toldot Yitzchak)

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“You shall make a holiday of Sukkot for yourself” (16:13)

R’ Shlomo Halberstam shlita(the “Bobover Rebbe”) notes that the root of the word “Sukkah” is the name for one of the forms of Ruach Hakodesh/Divine Inspiration, i.e., the ability to see that which is hidden (see Rashi to Bereishit 11:29). Thus, this verse may be read as a lesson that every person should set aside times (“make a holiday”) devoted to introspection, i.e., seeing oneself. (Quoted in Sukkat Bet Ropshitz p.31)

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“Shiv’ah D’nechemta”

The haftarot of the seven weeks following Tishah B’Av are known as the “Shiv’ah D’nechemta”/”The Seven of Consolation” This name derives from the fact that each of these haftarot promises that Hashem will console us after the terrible suffering that we have experienced in exile.

R’ Azaryah Figo z”l (Italy; 1579-1647) writes that the number seven is not random. He explains:

Before Tishah B’Av, we read the haftarot known as the “Gimel D’puranuta”/”Three of Calamity.” (The number three parallels the number of weeks between the Fasts of the 17th of Tammuz and Tishah B’Av.) Because we are taught that the measure of Hashem’s good exceeds the measure of His retribution, therefore we double the number associated with calamity (i.e., three) when we read the haftarot of consolation. This results in six haftarot of consolation. As for the seventh haftarah, it is different in that it speaks of Bnei Yisrael’s acceptance of the promised consolation.

In addition, R’ Figo writes, each of the “Gimel D’puranuta” contains two calamities, and each of the six haftarot of consolation “undoes” one of them. The first haftarah after the 17th of Tammuz begins: “Divrei Yirmiyahu”/”The words of Jeremiah.” Chazal teach that the verb “le’daber” (in contrast to “laimor”) connotes harsh speech. Paralleling this is the haftarah of Va’etchanan, in which the prophet speaks gently, “Nachamu, nachamu”/”Be comforted! Be comforted!”

Also, the first haftarah of calamity states: “See, I have appointed you [i.e., Yirmiyahu] this day . . . to uproot and to smash and to destroy and to raze.” The haftarah for Eikev responds with verses such as: “Your spoilers and destroyers must depart from you” and “Hashem shall comfort Zion; He shall comfort all her ruins.”

The second haftarah of calamity rebukes Bnei Yisrael for distancing themselves from the Torah: “[E]ven those charged with teaching Torah did not know Me.” The haftarah for Re’eh counters: “All your children will be students of Hashem.” And, in response to the calamitous verse (from the second haftarah), “Is Israel a slave? . . . Why has he become prey?” the haftarah for Shoftim responds, “Wake up! Wake up! Don your strength . . . for no longer shall there enter into you any uncircumcised or contaminated person.” While the haftarah of calamity speaks of Israel as a victim of oppressors, the haftarah of consolation speaks of Israel’s strength and glory.

Finally, the third haftarah of calamity informs us that Hashem will not accept our prayers because of our sins: “When you spread your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even if you were to increase prayer, I do not hear.” The haftarah for Ki Tetze promises, however: “For but a slight moment I have forsaken you . . . With a slight wrath I have concealed My countenance.” Also, while the third haftarah of calamity speaks of the punishment for misusing our wealth, the haftarah for Ki Tavo tells of the great riches that await us: “In place of copper I will bring gold; and in place of iron I will bring silver . . .”

In the last haftarah, Bnei Yisrael accept these six consolations: “I will rejoice intensely with Hashem.” (Binah La’ittim: Drush Aleph L’Shabbat Nachamu)

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Letters from Our Sages

This week’s letter was written in 1938 by R’ Yechezkel Levenstein z”l (1885-1974). At the time, the writer was mashgiach of the Mir Yeshiva, and he wrote this letter to an unnamed educator at another yeshiva. (As can be seen from the letter, a mashgiach’s job is to mold his charges’ characters and philosophical outlooks.)

The letter is published in Ohr Yechezkel: Michtavim, No. 11. The first two parts of the letter, which are not reprinted here, deal with the importance of peace amongst a yeshiva’s administrators and with the obligation to subdue one’s nature in the service of Hashem. The letter then continues:

My friend! The group of students from Germany is a chapter onto itself. How immense is the benefit and the work that can be achieved with them! I, too, have a group of them and I speak with them every week. . . They have no training regarding the light of the Torah, Rachamana li’tzlan/may the Merciful One save us, and the Torah is to them like any secular subject, Rachamana li’tzlan. Would that it will be possible to enlighten them with some of the light of the Torah and the words of the Sages so that they will know that the Torah transcends all intelligence and is beyond human grasp. Similarly, the words of the Sages are the words of the Living G-d, and those who received the Torah [i.e., the Sages] are angels, literally. All of their words are springs of wisdom, and the nature of a spring is that the more one draws from it, the more it flows. . . One who studies gemara, Rashi and Tosfot recognizes this immediately. Whatever we can understand of their words is only according to our weak ability, which Hashem has given to us so that we will not be completely distanced. The statement of the Sages (Shabbat 112b), “If the earlier generations were equal to angels, we are equal to mortals. If they were equal to mortals, we are equal to donkeys,” is not mere poetry; it is literally true.

Also, [it would be wonderful] to teach them some of the stories in the Talmud, such as the story of Rabbi Preda (Eruvin 54b) who reviewed a halachah with a student 800 times; this is the deed of an angel. [Note: Our gemara says “400.”] Similarly, the story of the humility of Hillel the Elder in Tractate Shabbat [31a]. . .

Also, they are very removed from understanding emunah/faith. Would that I could bring them somewhat closer to their Father in Heaven. This would be a great merit.

Sponsored by Rikki and Nathan Lewin in memory of his father Harav Yitzchok ben Harav Aharon a”h